Our Verdict
Decent for mixed usage. They have a highly customizable sound a decently comfortable design and a sturdy and durable build quality. They also isolate well enough in moderately loud environments that they're a suitable option for commuting. They also barely leak which makes them a more suitable option to use in quiet environments. Unfortunately, their sound quality struggles a bit with higher frequencies which makes them sound a bit dark so they won't be the ideal choice for more critical listeners.
- Good noise isolation.
- Minimal sound leakage.
- Sturdy and durable design.
- Poor treble range.
- Lacking comfortable padding on the headband.
Decent for neutral listening. The Sennheiser HD1 wireless have a great bass an above-average mid-range that decent with instruments and vocals. Unfortunately, they have a sub-par treble that makes most tracks sound a bit dark and lacking in detail and clarity on lead instruments. You can somewhat EQ their sound quality with the great Sennheiser CapTune app, but unfortunately, they may still not be the ideal choice for more neutral listeners. Also since they are noise cancelling closed-back over-ears that barely leak they will have a closed and small soundstage.
Decent for commuting. The Sennheiser HD1 cancel quite a bit of noise. They're also decently comfortable and give you a high amount of control over your audio directly on the headphones or through the app. They also do not leak so you can further mask ambient noise by turning your volume up. However, they won't be the most portable or travel-friendly headphones.
Average for sports. They're not specifically designed for high-intensity activities, but they're decently stable and provide great control over your audio. Unfortunately, they aren't the most portable or breathable headphones. They will also slide off your ears during more intense workouts.
Suitable for office use. They don't leak much especially for an over-ear and they isolate well enough to prevent the ambient noise of a lively office from seeping into your audio.
Below-average for gaming. The Sennheiser HD1 Wireless are above-average comfortable, with a decent enough sound and wireless range for gaming. Unfortunately, they have a mediocre-at-best integrated mic and a fair bit of latency which is not really suitable for gaming. Their cable is not iOS specific and will not work with your Xbox One controller. On the upside, they will provide audio and mic support when plugged into your Ps4 controller.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Feb 16, 2018: Converted to Test Bench 1.2.
- Updated Sep 28, 2017: The microphone has been tested with our new methodology, as explained here
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Sennheiser HD1 Wireless are a sturdy and durable wireless headset that looks and feels premium. They're decently comfortable and isolate well enough in loud environments to be a suitable choice for commute and travel. Unfortunately, the headband and ear cups are not as nicely padded, as some of the other over-ears we've tested (check our recommendations for the best over-ear headphones). They also struggle to reproduce higher frequencies which gives them a slightly dark sound that won't be for everyone. On the upside, you can EQ their sound profile with the CapTune app, and they have one of the lowest leakage performance for any over-ear that we've tested, which makes them a decent option for the office. See also our recommendations for the best noise cancelling headphones and the best closed-back headphones.
The Sennheiser PXC 550 Wireless are a better headset overall than the Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 Wireless. The PXC 550 are more comfortable, have a better battery performance, and more features. They also sound better out-of-the-box than the HD1 Wireless. On the other hand, the HD1 have a better build quality that feels more durable. The HD1 also isolate better in loud and quieter conditions thanks to their superior noise cancellation and low leakage.
The Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless are a nice improvement over the Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 Wireless/HD1 Wireless. They're noticeably bulkier and the cups are larger with better padding, making them a bit more comfortable overall. They also have a more neutral sound profile. The microphone recording quality is also improved on the new model. On the other hand, the Momentum 3 are noticeably leakier than the previous version.
The Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 Wireless/HD1 Wireless are a bit better than the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC overall, but not by much. The HD 4.50 have more features and a slightly better-balanced sound than the HD1 out-of-the-box. The HD 4.50 have a tighter fit on the head that's a bit more suitable for sports, but the HD1 have a much better build quality and isolate a bit better in noisy and quiet conditions.
The Sony WH-1000XM2 are a better noise canceling headphone than the Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 Wireless. The Sonys have better active noise cancellation, making them a better choice for commute and travel. The WH-1000XM2 also have a slightly more comfortable design with large ear cups and a more balanced sound quality out-of-the-box. On the upside, the Sennheisers have lower leakage, so you won't distract the people around you in quieter conditions, and they have more durable build quality.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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